BCAA

MEMBERS SAVE Take your vehicle to your nearest BCAA Auto Service Centre for its winter maintenance and repair needs. BCAA Members get exclusive savings, a two-year warranty and a free car wash with every service. bcaa.com/autoservice WINTER 2017 BCA A .COM 29 toolkit AUTOMOTIVE TIP! Don't wait for the next snowfall to get road salt and a shovel – do it now! The law requires you to clear the sidewalk in front of your home or business. Battery: check your charge Dead batteries were the second most common reason for roadside assistance calls last winter. Each year, drivers should take their vehicles to a shop for pre-winter service (or now, if you've missed that window – but prepare for longer wait times). In addition to topping up fluids, tuning your engine and checking the overall condition of your car, this should include a battery test, and replacement if needed. "A marginal battery will be fine most of the year, but as soon as that first cold snap hits, they just don't cut it," says Weloy. Wipers and fluid: switch for the season The wiper blades you use for summer showers can't clear ice or freezing rain as handily, so snap on a set of winter blades, which are sturdier and equipped with rubber that stays pliable in cold temperatures. Also switch out regular wiper fluid to a winter variety that contains antifreeze to melt ice. Tuck an extra bottle into your trunk with your cold-weather emergency kit, in case you run out. Driver: mind the conditions One other element in a vehicle needs adjustment for winter, and it sits right behind the steering wheel. Drivers need to moderate their speed to match conditions, which may mean dropping below the posted speed limit, says Weloy. Overconfidence can result in getting stuck (or worse), especially in problem areas such as hills, congested streets and roads where snow and ice haven't been cleared yet. Motorists should also check road and weather reports before they go anywhere, and allow themselves extra time to get wherever they're going. ■ arises, and that's when problems occur: "They're caught at work, and they've got the all-seasons, and they take a chance to try and drive home. That's typically when they get caught in traffic, or try to go up a hill they're not able to go up." Some BC municipalities, such as the City of Vancouver, have even been contemplating mandatory winter-tire laws in the wake of last winter. Concerned about the cost of winter tires? Don't be, especially if you're planning to own your current vehicle for more than five years. Your all-seasons are likely to need replacing in that time, so you might as well buy a set of winters, doubling the life of both.

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